Expressive Centre
“We are creative and love working with the arts. We like to display our talents in drama, dance, performing arts and visual arts.”
The project
Students from the Expressive Centre at Ilminster Intermediate School in Gisborne created these beautiful and impressive poupou (post) panels. It took three classes nearly three months, and a lot of research and talent, to make the 30 pieces that together form the panels.
Poupou
Like traditional carved poupou found in Māori meeting houses, these poupou record the whakapapa (family history) of the taiohi (youth) who created them. The students have used colours, patterns, symbolism, whakatauki (proverbs), and pāua shell, to weave together a record of Te Tairawhiti East Coast history, ancestors, environment, and youth culture. They have included their hopes and dreams for the future too.